Purple-throated Sunangel vs Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Heliangelus viola compared with Lampornis amethystinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Sunangel | Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliangelus viola | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) | 13.1 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 5.433333333333333 g (0.19 oz) | 5.6000000000000005 g (0.20 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore strongly associated with Ericaceae in treeline habitats. Catches small insects on the wing for … | Nectarivore of Mexican and Central American montane pine-oak forest; visits Ericaceae and Salvia. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Purple-throated Sunangel only
None
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-throated Sunangel
Soft, liquid warbling with gentle character; mellow notes flowing easily in quiet musical phrase at forest edge.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Pure, sustained flute-like tone held steady; single clear note with barely perceptible vibrato in tropical shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-throated Sunangel
Found in Andean cloud forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru at 1,600–3,000 m elevation.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Found in montane forest from Mexico south through Guatemala and Honduras to El Salvador. 1,000–3,200 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Sunangel
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
About These Birds
Purple-throated Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Ecuador to Peru at 1,800-3,200 m. Males have a deep purple-violet throat gorget. Green plumage. Nectarivore of montane forest edges, particularly partial to flowering Ericaceae shrubs.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in mountain forests from Mexico to Honduras at 1,000-3,000 m. Males have an amethyst-purple throat. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. Commonly visits feeders in Mexican highland gardens.